Cellulitis?

[execkenpo]

My arm started swelling at the elbow late Sunday...whitih an hour it lloked like a tennis ball. Monday morning it had spread partway down the forearm and by dinner was almost to the wrist. I went to my doc last night and he thinks it's either cellulitis or an infection in the elbow joint. I'm taking CEPHALEX; 500mg 4x day for two days then 250mg 4x day for 8 more. If it is cellulitis, how long will it take for me to be 'better'? He also said if it's in the joint I will need an IV with antibo's and possibly surgery? What kind of surgery?

Anyone with any insight?

[Dr. Dave in da house]

If it's cellulitis, you'll be fine in a little over a week, with one exception: When you're overly tired, dehydrated, stressed out, or that sort of thing, the old site will tend to get a little puffy...infections create a sort of neovasculogenesis...new capillaries, or better worn paths down old ones. So stressors that induce inflammation in the bloodstream will tend to cause old sites to bark at you (kind of the blood flow version of feeling old bone injuries with the onset of storms).

If it's joint infection, the surgery is a minor one..aspiration. They poke a hole, and suck out the schmutz. Depending on the extent of the infection and philosophy of the doc, some will ask you to lay low for a spell, while others encourage you to jump back on the wagon as soon as you can. You'll only have some small portal of entry holes; nothing major. Likely followed by some more prophylactic antibiotics.

Be good to it; we only get one set of parts.

D.

[amylong]

Cellulitis is hot. That's what I had in June in Vegas and again in Maryland. It spreads fast, feels hot and you might be feeling pretty crummy.

I felt better after two or three days. Actually, the morning after I took the first megadose, I felt somewhat better, but not totally for several days.

It could be caused by a spider bite or (in my case) nothing.

Sorry you have to deal with it, but glad you dealt with it quickly. You can lose limbs and body parts if you don't deal with it.

A guy from Ireland had it the same time as me, but he'd had it for two weeks. They had to open his leg to drain it, then pack it, then sent him home.

If he'd waited longer, he would've lost his leg.

--Amy

[sifuroy]

Thanks to" Dr.Dave in Da House" you now have better understanding of your problem. Good luck and get well soon

I am most respectfully,
sifuroy

[execkenpo]

Thanks Dr. Dave for your advice and also to everyone else. I was alittle concerned last night because the redness and heat were preading beyond the lines my doc had drawn. I had a fever most of the night and was sweating so bad my bedsheets were damp This morning I woke and my arm feels and look sa lot better, so it sound slike the antibo's are working . I have another foloow up appointment with my doc this morning and he will decide then whether to refer me to a specialist. Thank god for public health care.

[akskarate1]

My youngest son who is 7 gets it a few times a year. I use a green tea oil or Tea tree oil and a warm wash cloth to bring it to a head it usually takes about an hour or two for it too work. With a slight amount of pressure you will be able to drain most of it out, like a big pimple. Instant relief, of course I wouldn't do any of this with out consulting with the Doc first.

[execkenpo]

My youngest son who is 7 gets it a few times a year. I use a green tea oil or Tea tree oil and a warm wash cloth to bring it to a head it usually takes about an hour or two for it too work. With a slight amount of pressure you will be able to drain most of it out, like a big pimple. Instant relief, of course I wouldn't do any of this with out consulting with the Doc first.

Thanks for the idea. I feel for your son. I can't imagine what it must be like going through this a couple of times each year, especially for a kid!

My doc referred me to the hospital and they agreed with his diagnosis and increased my prescription to 1g per dose from 500mg. If there is no improvement within the next day I'm to go back for IV antibiotics.

[wahine warrior]

My youngest son who is 7 gets it a few times a year. I use a green tea oil or Tea tree oil and a warm wash cloth to bring it to a head it usually takes about an hour or two for it too work. With a slight amount of pressure you will be able to drain most of it out, like a big pimple. Instant relief, of course I wouldn't do any of this with out consulting with the Doc first.

Actually, that sounds more like a boil. The treatment you described is what is typically done for such a condition.